Manchester United fan threatens to sue club for moving his season ticket seat at Old Trafford

A Manchester United season ticket holder is threatening to sue the club for shifting his seat to another part of Old Trafford. Darron Abbott, 46, is one of a number of supporters being moved from the third tier of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand to the East Stand as part of a trial club bosses say is aimed at improving ‘the number, range and quality of seats available to Reds’.

NOT HAPPY: Darron Abbott called the ticket office "a bunch of amateurs"

A Manchester United season ticket holder is threatening to sue the club for shifting his seat to another part of Old Trafford.

Darron Abbott, 46, is one of a number of supporters being moved from the third tier of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand to the East Stand as part of a trial club bosses say is aimed at improving ‘the number, range and quality of seats available to Reds’.

The experiment will take place when United take on Aston Villa on April 15.

Club bosses say all the fans will be moved to better seats – but Darron insists they have no right to enforce the switch.

He believes they are in breach of contract and has even threatened legal action.

Darron, from Boston, Lincolnshire, said: "There’s a big group of us who sit in the top tier of the North Stand. It’s a great view up there and we all get along and know each other.

"But at the last match we heard a whisper that the club were thinking of moving us to where the away fans sit and putting them in our seats.

"I contacted the ticket office and someone read out a letter they were going to send us saying we were moving to where the away fans currently sit in the East Stand.

"I have told them that I am going to sue them for breach of contract. Nowhere in the season ticket terms and conditions does it say they have the right to move us for anything other than cup games.

"They are just a bunch of amateurs. It’s like the song: they’re Man United, they’ll do what they want."

Darron, a United fan since his parents took him to Belle Vue dog track to see the 1968 European Cup-winning team parade the trophy, thinks the move is part of a money-making ploy.

He said: "The cynic in me would say that they charge £35 to sit in the upper tier of the North Stand (Sir Alex Ferguson Stand) whereas it’s £45 for away fans. If they switch it will still be £45 for away fans and from next season they can charge us more to sit where they are now. We keep getting told we’re not fans now, we’re customers. Well this is no way to treat customers.

"I spoke to one of my pals who sits next to me from the Wolverhampton supporters club and he’s had a word with the Swansea lads, so it is going to spread. "

But a United spokesman hit back – saying that the move has the support of the majority of fans and adding that those being moved will be in seats with a better view that are closer to the action.

He added: "There is no certainty that it will be adopted on an ongoing basis – that will depend on the result of the trial – but all the fans being moved are getting a better seat and some vouchers as a gesture of goodwill and a thanks for their co-operation. Our motive is to try and find the best arrangement of seats for United fans and the team, who value the fans’ support enormously.

"We’re sorry this fan feels this way, but we believe we’ve done everything we can to address the concerns fans may have."

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